humor

I'm not one who cares to watch much television. My main programs are "Meet the Press", and "This Week With George Stephanopoulos". Last evening my wife and I were laughing to a favorite show of her's, "Keeping Up Appearances", and to a kind of overall likeable show to me, "Red Green". Lately Lukas McKnight posted a link to Lark News on a supposed draft of seminary graduates into pastorates. Which I found funny, though some at the Christian organization I work at did not; some did. That kind of humor is another topic by itself. Though to touch on my take of it, I think it's good when we as people, and as Christians, can laugh at ourselves.

Humor is a gift from God (note Ecclesiastes 3:4) that sometimes, we as Christians, can view as unsanctified. Too be sure, much of the humor that we experience, even in the best of shows does go over the top at times. And what may not seem wrong to one, may come across as wrong to another. Some "humor", to be sure, is sinful. To find what I would call good, pure, clean humor, is not easy. Too often one has to wade through a swamp of moral filth to get some tidbits of actual humor. One has to use their own discretion and make their own judgment as to what they're willing to view or take in, to enjoy some humor. This includes reading, as anyone can testify, who goes to the humor section at a store like "Barnes and Noble."

Humor can be enjoyed, and I think at times it is good to be carried away in it. But we must be able to get our feet back on the ground quickly, or in the midst of that. We are told in 1 Peter 4:7-8: "The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." (TNIV) We don't want to lose that edge, by overindulging in any gift from God. In this case humor. At the same time, we do not want to deny any gift from God. And we can give and receive it as those, who are walking with Christ, by the Spirit. So that in one minute we can have a good laugh. And in the next minute, we can be interceding in prayer for another, or reading Scripture.

Lord, Help us in this matter of humor. Let us enjoy the gift you give to us as humans, of humor. A gift evident in some of your sayings to us. Let us be those who walk in reverence, yet with a light step, as your people, in this world. Amen.